Exercise machine using ball

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is an exercise machine using a ball. The exercise machine includes a stand. A fastening bracket is secured to the stand and has on an upper portion thereof a first external threaded part. A coil spring engages at a lower portion thereof with the first external threaded part. A connecting bracket includes a second external threaded part which is provided on a lower portion thereof and engages with an upper portion of the coil spring, and a third external threaded part which is provided on an upper portion thereof. A ball includes a core and a cover formed of a plurality of panel segments. An internal bracket is secured to an inner circumferential surface of the core, and has a first internal threaded part which engages with the third external threaded part.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0112043 filed on Nov. 11, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an exercise machine and, more particularly, to an exercise machine using a ball, which is capable of continuously exercising a lower body using the fastened ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As an activity for improving human health by continuously training the body, a health exercise draws people's attention. Various types of machines have been developed for the health exercise.

The health exercise uses a method of training the muscles of the human body through repeated movements. However, repeated movements cause a reduction in interest, thus making it difficult to continue the exercise.

In order to solve the problem, various kinds of exercise machines have been developed. In particular an exercise machine using a ball has also been developed.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional exercise machine using a ball.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional exercise machine using the ball is constructed so that an elastic member 22 is mounted to a stand 10, and a ball 1 such as a soccer ball is fastened to a rubber band 24 which is secured to the elastic member 22.

However, the conventional exercise machine is problematic in that the ball 1 is likely to be dislodged and does not have an attractive appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an exercise machine using a ball, which is capable of firmly fastening the ball to a stand.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an exercise machine using a ball, including a stand, a fastening bracket secured to the stand and having on an upper portion thereof a first external threaded part, a coil spring engaging at a lower portion thereof with the first external threaded part, a connecting bracket including a second external threaded part provided on a lower portion thereof and engaging with an upper portion of the coil spring, and a third external threaded part provided on an upper portion thereof, a ball including a core and a cover formed of a plurality of panel segments, and an internal bracket secured to an inner circumferential surface of the core and having a first internal threaded part which engages with the third external threaded part.

An air inlet may be formed in a central portion of the internal bracket.

The connecting bracket may include a support plate corresponding to an outer circumferential surface of the ball.

Further, a protrusion may be provided on an upper surface of the support plate, and may be inserted into a depression which is formed in the associated panel segment of the ball.

The stand may include an inlet formed in an upper surface thereof and communicating with an empty space therein, and a second internal threaded part formed in the inlet and engaging with a fourth external threaded part which is provided on a lower portion of the fastening bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional exercise machine using a ball;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exercise machine using a ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the exercise machine using the ball according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing portion A encircled in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the ball according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing the use of the exercise machine using the ball according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exercise machine using a ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, a ball 100 is coupled to a stand 300 via an elastic member, namely, a coil spring 400, which is secured to the stand 300, thus allowing a user to repeat the movement of kicking a soccer ball.

The assembly of the exercise ball will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the exercise machine using the ball according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the exercise machine using the ball according to the present invention includes the stand 300, a fastening bracket 420 secured to the stand 300, the coil spring 400, a connecting bracket 410, the ball 100 and an internal bracket 430 secured to the inside of the ball 100.

Further, it is preferable that an anti-slip pad 310 be attached to a lower surface of the stand 300.

First, the ball 100 includes a core 110 (generally, rubber tube) and a cover 120 formed of a plurality of panel segments (generally manufactured of rubber or leather). The internal bracket 430 is secured to an inner circumferential surface of the core 110.

The internal bracket 430 is coupled to the connecting bracket 410. The coil spring 400 is secured at opposite ends thereof to the connecting bracket 410 and the fastening bracket 420, respectively.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing portion A encircled in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fastening bracket 420 is fastened to a second internal threaded part 302 provided in the stand 300, and a first external threaded part 422 is provided on an upper portion of the fastening bracket 420.

Here, the stand 300 may be manufactured to have a space for receiving a filler (typically, water) therein, thus stably supporting the ball 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, an inlet 301 is formed in an upper surface of the stand 300 in such a way as to communicate with the empty space in the stand 300. The second internal threaded part 302 is formed in the inlet 301 and engages with a fourth external threaded part 424 which is formed on a lower portion of the fastening bracket 420.

Thus, water is put through the inlet 301 into the space of the stand 300, and the second internal threaded part 302 engages with the fourth external threaded part 424 of the fastening bracket 420, thus closing the inlet 301.

Such a structure is advantageous in that manufacturing costs are low and external appearance is attractive, in comparison with the conventional exercise machine using the ball wherein the inlet 301 is separately formed.

Here, an O-ring 320 is inserted between the fastening bracket 420 and the second internal threaded part 302 to maintain air-tightness, thus preventing the filler stored in the stand 300 from leaking out.

Further, a lower portion of the coil spring 400 is coupled to the first external threaded part 422 provided in the fastening bracket 420, while an upper portion of the coil spring 400 is coupled to the second external threaded part 412 provided in a lower portion of the connecting bracket 410.

Here, the coil spring 400 is coupled with the first and second external threaded parts 422 and 412 by inserting the coil spring 400 into grooves of the first and second external threaded parts 422 and 412.

Further, in order to increase a coupling force, the coil spring 400 may be manufactured in the form of a conical coil spring so that its radius is reduced toward an outside. A third external threaded part 414 is provided on an upper portion of the connecting bracket 410. The third external threaded part 414 is fastened to a first internal threaded part 432 which is provided in the internal bracket 430 secured to the inner circumferential surface of the core 110 of the ball 100.

Here, an air inlet 434 is formed in a central portion of the internal bracket 430, thus injecting air into the core 110.

The internal bracket 430 is provided in the core 110 by blow molding the core 110 with the internal bracket 430 being inserted in a mold.

The process of assembling the ball 100, the internal bracket 430, the connecting bracket 410, the coil spring 400, the fastening bracket 420 and the stand 300 will be described below in detail. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, the opposite ends of the coil spring 400 are coupled to the first external threaded part 422 formed in the fastening bracket 420 and the second external threaded part 412 formed in the connecting bracket 410.

Next, the fourth external threaded part 424 formed on the lower portion of the fastening bracket 420 is fastened to the second internal threaded part 302 provided in the stand 300, and the third external threaded part 414 formed on the upper portion of the connecting bracket 410 is fastened to the first internal threaded part 432 of the internal bracket 430 provided in the ball 100.

Further, in order to more firmly fasten the ball 100, the connecting bracket 410 is preferably provided with a support plate 415 which corresponds to an outer circumferential surface of the ball 100.

An inner circumferential surface of the support plate 415 comes into close contact with an outer circumferential surface of the panel segment of the ball 100. In order to prevent a gap from occurring, protrusions 416 are provided on an upper surface of the support plate 415 and are inserted into depressions 124 which are formed in the panel segment of the ball 100.

Thus, even if a rotating force is transmitted to the ball 100 during the repeated exercise, the protrusions 416 inserted into the depressions 124 prevent the ball 100 from rotating.

Such a ball 100 will be described below in detail. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the ball according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, among the plurality of panel segments, a panel segment 122 which is coupled to an outer surface of the core 110 on which the internal bracket 430 is placed has a through hole 126 at a center thereof, thus allowing the third external threaded part 414 of the connecting bracket 410 to be fastened to the first internal threaded part 432 of the internal bracket 430. The air inlet 434 formed in the internal bracket 430 permits the injection of air into the ball 100.

Further, the depressions 124 are provided outside the through hole 126 in a circular arrangement, so that the protrusions 416 of the support plate 415 may be inserted into the corresponding depressions 124.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the use of the exercise machine using the ball according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ball 100 is connected to the stand 300 via the coil spring 400, using the internal bracket 430, the fastening bracket 420, and the connecting bracket 410.

Thus, if a user kicks the stopped ball 100, the ball 100 elastically returns to the center by the elastic force of the coil spring 400. Thereby, the user can repeat shooting action of continuously kicking the moving ball.

As described above, the present invention provides an exercise machine using a ball, which can firmly fasten the ball to a stand using an internal bracket secured to an inner circumferential surface of a core, thus preventing the exercise ball from being dislodged during an exercise.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. An exercise machine using a ball, comprising: a stand; a fastening bracket secured to the stand, and having on an upper portion thereof a first external threaded part; a coil spring engaging at a lower portion thereof with the first external threaded part; a connecting bracket including: a second external threaded part provided on a lower portion thereof, and engaging with an upper portion of the coil spring; and a third external threaded part provided on an upper portion thereof; a ball including: a core; and a cover formed of a plurality of panel segments; and an internal bracket secured to an inner circumferential surface of the core, and having a first internal threaded part which engages with the third external threaded part.
 2. The exercise machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein an air inlet is formed in a central portion of the internal bracket.
 3. The exercise machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connecting bracket comprises a support plate corresponding to an outer circumferential surface of the ball.
 4. The exercise machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein a protrusion is provided on an upper surface of the support plate, and is inserted into a depression which is formed in the associated panel segment of the ball.
 5. The exercise machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stand comprises: an inlet formed in an upper surface thereof and communicating with an empty space therein; and a second internal threaded part formed in the inlet and engaging with a fourth external threaded part which is provided on a lower portion of the fastening bracket. 